US6857711B1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US6857711B1
Application number: US10/249,380
Authority: US
Inventors: Albert E. Straus
Original assignee: Great Lakes Case and Cabinet Co Inc
Current assignee: Great Lakes Case and Cabinet Co Inc
Priority date: 2002-10-28
Filing date: 2003-04-03
Publication date: 2005-02-22
Anticipated expiration: 2022-10-28
Also published as: US20040080244A1

Abstract

A cabinet for storing vertically stacked items has a stabilizer. The cabinet has a door and a fixed base, the stabilizer adding to the total support base of the cabinet when extended. If fully extended, the stabilizer prevents tipping if the center of gravity of the cabinet shifts beyond the fixed base. The door automatically engages and extends the stabilizer when the door is initially opened from a closed position. The door continues to engage and extend the stabilizer until the stabilizer is fully extended. Once the stabilizer is fully extended, the door disengages the stabilizer if the door continues to be opened. When closed, the door returns to automatically re-engage and retract the stabilizer. If the stabilizer has been partially retracted during the interval in which the door has been open, the door will still re-engage and retract the stabilizer.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/282,887 filed on Oct. 28, 2002 and entitled Expandable Server Cabinet which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Electronic component boxes such as computer servers are frequently stored in cabinets in dedicated locations such as central computer rooms. Electrical component or server cabinets can be used to store component boxes for security and for organizational and aesthetic purposes in these locations. Such locations also tend to be limited in floor space, making it necessary for individual component boxes to be stored vertically in a way that maximizes the usage of space that is available. For these reasons, for example, existing server cabinets are commonly available in a variety of fixed sizes, these cabinets typically being configured to store multiple computer servers In a stacked or vertical arrangement.

Many server cabinets are equipped with a front door which allows access to its interior from its front end. Server cabinets are typically equipped with slides on each side that allow each server to temporarily slide out past the front door to allow for quick access to internal components within the servers, without requiring complete removal of a server from its cabinet mounting. The front door typically remains open as each server is serviced. An example of one such server cabinet is described in my co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/282,881.

Most server cabinets are designed so that the center of gravity of a particular cabinet is supported by the base of the cabinet when the cabinet is either empty or when one or more servers have been installed. However, when the front door is opened and as one or more servers are accessed, each server moves forward on a pair of slides and passes over the front door threshold in a way that may cause the center of gravity of the cabinet to temporarily shift past the fixed base of the cabinet. For this reason, it may be necessary to temporarily expand the support base of a cabinet with an appropriate additional support member while the servers are in a forward position.

Due to the limited amount of floor space that is normally available at dedicated locations used for server cabinets, it is often necessary for an external support member to be removable or retractable to normally make available the space that the support member occupies during the servicing of a server while it is in a forward position in a cabinet. However, when a cabinet support member is removable or manually extendable, its use becomes dependent on the initiative of the installer or remover of each server. Therefore, there is a risk that a person servicing a component box, being pressed for time, impatient, or otherwise not inclined to adhere to procedures, could attempt to install or unload a component box without making use of or fully extending the cabinet support member.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The invention is a stabilized cabinet that can store vertically stacked items such as electrical component boxes and a stabilizer therefor. The cabinet has a vertically extending door and a fixed base which is the support base of the cabinet when the door is closed. A stabilizer has a size and is positioned at a location on a cabinet which causes the stabilizer to expand the support base of the cabinet when the stabilizer is extended from the fixed base of the cabinet over floor space that is adjacent the location of the cabinet. If fully extended, the stabilizer leg will sufficiently expand the support base of the cabinet to prevent tipping if the center of gravity of the cabinet shifts beyond the fixed base of the cabinet.

The door and the stabilizer are configured to enable the door to automatically engage and extend the stabilizer when the door is initially opened from a closed position, allowing the stabilizer to be extended without requiring someone working with a component box to undertake an additional operational step.

As the door continues to be opened, the door continues to engage and extend the stabilizer until the stabilizer is fully extended. Once the stabilizer has been fully extended, the door automatically disengages the stabilizer if the door continues to be opened, allowing the door to swing freely.

After the door has been opened, the installer or remover may continue the installation or removal procedure by moving one or more component boxes past the threshold of the door. As this is done, the center of gravity of the combined cabinet and component boxes may temporarily move past the threshold of the door and past the fixed base of the cabinet. However, the center of gravity will remain over the expanded support base created by the extended stabilizer, and the cabinet will be prevented from tipping.

The door is also configured to return to the stabilizer and automatically re-engage and retract the stabilizer as the door is closed without requiring additional or manual operational steps to effect retraction. If the stabilizer has been bumped or otherwise partially retracted during the interval in which the door has been open, the configuration of the door and stabilizer will still allow the door to re-engage the stabilizer and will allow the stabilizer to retract.

Those skilled in the art will realize that this invention is capable of embodiments which are different from those shown and that details of the structure of the cabinet stabilizer described herein can be changed in various manners without departing from the scope of this invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions are to be regarded as including such equivalent cabinet stabilizers as do not depart from the spirit and scope of this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding and appreciation of this invention and many of its advantages, reference will be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a cabinet having a closed front door and a retracted stabilizer according to the invention;

FIG. 1B is perspective view of the cabinet of claim1A having an extended stabilizer and an open front door according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a magnified perspective view of the stabilizer ofFIG. 1B;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional side view of the stabilizer ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 4A is a top view of the front end of the cabinet ofFIG. 1A having a closed front door and retracted stabilizer;

FIG. 4B is a top view of the front end of the cabinet ofFIG. 1A having a partially opened front door and a partially extended stabilizer;

FIG. 4C is a top view of the front end of the cabinet ofFIG. 1A having a partially opened front door and a fully extended stabilizer;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of a cabinet, stabilizer and front door according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6A is a side cross sectional view of the cabinet and stabilizer ofFIG. 5 with the stabilizer being retracted; and

FIG. 6B is a side cross sectional view of the cabinet and stabilizer ofFIG. 5 with the stabilizer being extended.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawings, identical reference numerals designate the same or corresponding part throughout the several figures as shown in the drawings. In some drawings, some specific embodiment variations in corresponding parts are denoted with the addition of lower case letters to reference numerals.

FIG. 1A depicts atypical cabinet50aof the invention constructed around acabinet frame51athat includes afixed base56a,side panels58,cover60 andcorner angles64. Each of the corner angles extends from afront portion52ato aback portion54 of thecabinet50a. Thecover60 may includeventilation passages62 that allow air to pass into the interior of the cabinet50 and which allow for the ventilation of electrical component boxes (not shown) contained therein.

Afront door82ais vertically mounted onhinges94 at thefront portion52ato extend along the width of thecabinet50a. Thefront door82aincludes adoorframe68 having a top brace12,bottom brace74, and extruded side rails70. Acorrugated grille76 extends between thetop brace72,bottom brace74, and extruded side rails70 of thefront door50ato allow for additional ventilation of the interior of thecabinet50a.

Normally, electrical component boxes are stored in a vertically stacked fashion within thecabinet50a, with center of gravity of the combined component boxes andcabinet50aresiding above the fixedbase56aof thecabinet frame51a. However, most electrical component boxes are serviced while installed in thecabinet50aby moving each component box on its slides over thethreshold63 of thefront door82a. This typically results in a disproportionate amount of weight being temporarily present at thefront portion52aof thecabinet50a. This in turn can shift the center of gravity of the combinedcabinet50aand component boxes toward thefront portion52aof thecabinet50aand possibly off of the fixedbase56a, reducing the stability of thecabinet50aas each component box is serviced.

As best understood with a comparison ofFIGS. 1A and 1B, both the support base and overall stability can be increased with the addition of astabilizer116 to the fixedbase56aof thecabinet50a, thestabilizer116 being automatically extended, as depicted inFIG. 1B, when thefront door82aIs opened.

A magnified view of thestabilizer116 ofFIGS. 1A and 1B is depicted in FIG.2. Thestabilizer116 includes a pair of reciprocally mounted to fit within the fixedbase56aand to be extended from thefront portion52aof thecabinet50a. Across member120 extends across thestabilizer116 to connect thestabilizer legs118 and to permit thestabilizer legs118 to move in unison during extension from or retraction to the fixedbase56a. Glidelegs122 are positioned at either end of thecross member120 to support thestabilizer116 and to allow thestabilizer116 to slide over floor space adjacent to thefront portion52aof thecabinet50awhen thefront door82 is opened.

Thecross member120 includes a spring loadedpin trap124 extending along the length of thecross member120. Apin track126 is formed behind thepin trap124 and against thecross member120. Thepin track116 includes exit points128 at either end of thepin trap126 that open toward the front of thestabilizer126.

A cross sectional view of thestabilizer116 is depicted inFIG. 3 showing thepin trap124 biased with atrap spring130 to an upward position on itspivot132. Thestabilizer116 is shown with thefront door82aof thecabinet50apositioned over thecross member120 of thestabilizer116. Thefront door82ahas aroller pin134 that is positioned in aroller pinhole136 located at a fixed position on thefront door82a. Theroller pin134 is removable androller pinholes136 are included at both the top and bottom of thefront door82ato allow for upside hinge reversal of the door.

Thefront door82ais symmetrical along its horizontal centerline, allowing thefront door82ato be mounted either to open from the left (as shown inFIG. 1B) or from the right (not shown). This symmetry also allows thefront door82aand back door66 to be interchangeable.Roller pinholes136 are included on both thefront door82aand the back door66 since thefront door82aand back door66 are identical and interchangeable. Theroller pin134 is also shown to be in engagement with thepin track126 of thecross member120.

FIG. 4A is a top view of thefront door82aandstabilizer116 configuration ofFIG. 3 positioned at thefront portion52aof thecabinet50a, thefront door82abeing in a closed position and theroller pin134 being in engagement with thepin track126. When thefront door82ais initially opened, as shown inFIG. 4B, theroller pin134 travels with thefront door82aalong apin path138 while maintaining its engagement with thecross member120 of thestabilizer116. This engagement exerts an extension force against thepin trap124 and begins to extend thestabilizer116 from the fixedbase56aof thecabinet50a. Thus, as thefront door82ais opened, thestabilizer116 progressively begins to extend automatically from the fixedbase56a.

As theroller pin134 travels along thepin path138, it also moves along thepin track126 toward theexit point128 at one end of thepin trap124. Referring now toFIG. 4C, theroller pin134 exits thepin track126attheexit point128 once thestabilizer116 is fully extended, automatically disconnecting thefront door82afrom engagement with thestabilizer116. Thefront door82acan then continue to swing freely and be opened further without further interfering with the stabilizer,116. Thestabilizer116 thus acts to extend the support base of thecabinet50apast thethreshold63 of thefront door82aand allows for greater stability as electrical component boxes are added to thecabinet50a. The inclusion of exit points128 at either end of thepin trap126 also allows thepin134 to exit thepin track126 regardless of whether thefront door82ais mounted to open from the left or from the right.

Later, as thefront door82ais being closed, theroller pin134 can re-enter thepin track126 through theexit point128. However, while thefront door82 is in an open position and thecabinet50ais loaded or unloaded, it is possible that thestabilizer116 could be bumped or otherwise partially retracted by accident so that anexit point128 of thepin track126 would be out of line with thepin path138. If this were to happen, theroller pin134 would contact thepin trap124 as thefront door82arotated toward thefront portion52aof thecabinet50a. As best understood by comparingFIG. 2 withFIG. 3, thepin trap124 is tapered so that if theroller pin134 were to make contact with any portion of thepin trap124, the force of the rotatingfront door82awould cause theroller pin134 to exert a compression force against thetrap spring130. This compression force would lower thepin trap124 on itspivot132 sufficiently for theroller pin134 to bypass thepin trap124 and engage thepin track126.

Once theroller pin134 returns to engage thepin track126, the force of the rotatingfront door82ais used to exert retracting forces, exerted through theroller pin134 against thecross member120, to retract thestabilizer116 into the fixedbase56aof thecabinet50a. Thus, closing thefront door82aautomatically retracts thestabilizer116 into the fixedbase56aof thecabinet50aregardless of how far thestabilizer116 has been extended. Retraction of thestabilizer116 then frees up adjacent floor space until it is again necessary to open thefront door82ato again service electrical component boxes that are stored inside thecabinet50a.

Although the invention has been shown and described as having a stabilizer having a roller pin and pin trap to effect extension and retraction, it will be appreciated that other stabilizer configurations are also possible and are contemplated to be within the scope of the invention. An example of an alternate configuration is depicted inFIGS. 5,6A and6B. Astabilizer150 includes anengagement angle140 positioned at the end of astabilizer leg152. Thestabilizer leg152 is mounted to extend from or to retract into the fixed base56bof thecabinet50bbetween leg guides156. Thefront door82bof thecabinet50bincludes a springinglever142 that rests against astop144 when thefront door82bis in a closed position. Thelever142 is mounted to rotate on apivot146 that is in fixed position on thefront door82b. Movement of thelever142 is restricted with a biasing spring (not shown) that can be located within thepivot146.

Referring toFIG. 5, the biasing spring does not permit inward rotation of thelever142 toward thecabinet50bpast the engagement position shown with respect to thefront door82b. The biasing spring does permit limited outward rotation of thelever142 from the engagement position in a direction that is away from thecabinet50b. However, such outward rotation is limited in that thelever142 is biased to rotate inwardly toward thecabinet50bto the engagement position shown with respect to thefront door82b. Due to this bias by the biasing spring, thelever142 is also spring biased to remain in contact with thestop144 while thefront door82bis in the closed position and thelever142 is in the engagement position. While thefront door82bis closed and thelever142 is in the engagement position, thelever142 is also proximate theengagement angle140.

When thefront door82bis opened, thelever142, remaining in the engagement position with respect to thefront door82b, contacts and exerts an extension force against theengagement angle140 to extend thestabilizer150 and increase the support base of thecabinet50b. When thestabilizer150 is fully extended, the fixed position of thepivot146 travels with the rotatingfront door82b, moving thelever142 away from the reach of theengagement angle140 and preventing further engagement with thestabilizer150 while keeping thelever142 in the engagement position with respect to thedoor82b.

After the component boxes of thecabinet50bhave been serviced, thefront door82bcan be rotated toward the closed position. If thestabilizer150 has been bumped or otherwise partially retracted by accident, thelever142 rotates outward away from thecabinet50band away from the engagement position against its spring bias to bypass theengagement angle140 as thelever142 andengagement angle140 make contact.

Referring to the side cross sectional views ofFIGS. 6A and 6B, thefront door82bincludes anoverhang148 which is configured to contact theengagement angle140 and force thestabilizer150 to retract back into the fixed base56bof thecabinet50bas thefront door82breturns to its closed position. Thelever142 clears theengagement angle140 and returns to its engagement position under the force of its spring bias when thedoor82bis fully closed.

This invention has been described with reference to specific illustrated embodiments. Many modifications and alterations of these embodiments will occur or become apparent to others upon reading and understanding the preceding specification. It is intended and will be appreciated that this invention is to be construed as including all such alterations and modifications insofar as they come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims or equivalents of these claims.

Claims

1. A stabilized cabinet for storing vertically stacked items comprising:

a cabinet configured to store a plurality of vertically stacked items, said cabinet having a vertically extending door and a fixed base comprising the support base of said cabinet when said vertical door is closed;

a stabilizer mounted to reciprocate with respect to said cabinet so as to be extendable from about the bottom of said cabinet, said stabilizer being constructed and positioned with respect to said cabinet to expand the support base of said cabinet when said stabilizer is extended from said cabinet;

said door and said stabilizer configured to enable said door to engage and extend said stabilizer from said cabinet as said door is being opened from a closed position and to disengage from said stabilizer when said stabilizer is fully extended; and

said door and said stabilizer enabling said door to reengage and retract said stabilizer if said stabilizer has not been fully retracted before said door is closed and allowing said door to return to a position to extend said stabilizer regardless of the position of said stabilizer when said stabilizer is reengaged by said door.

2. The stabilized cabinet ofclaim 1 further comprising:

said door including a pin extending from a fixed position; said stabilizer having a pin trap positioned on said stabilizer, said pin configured to exert an extension force on said pin trap and to enable said door to engage and extend said stabilizer from said cabinet as said door is being opened from a closed position and to disengage from said pin trap when said stabilizer is fully extended; and

said pin and said pin trap configured to enable said pin to reengage said pin trap and retract said stabilizer if said stabilizer has not been fully retracted before said door is closed and to allow said door to return to a position to extend said stabilizer regardless of the position of said stabilizer when said stabilizer is reengaged by said door.

3. The stabilized cabinet ofclaim 1 further comprising:

said door including a pin extending from a fixed position;

said stabilizer including a pin trap positioned on said stabilizer, said pin trap having at least one exit point and being positioned to rotate on a pivot and biased to an upward position, said pin configured to exert an extension force on said pin trap and to enable said door to engage and extend said stabilizer from said cabinet as said door is being opened from a closed position and to disengage from said pin trap through said at least one exit point when said stabilizer is fully extended; and

said pin configured to exert a compression force against said pin trap to rotate said pin trap on its pivot against its bias to a downward position to reengage said pin trap and retract said stabilizer if said stabilizer has not been fully retracted before said door is closed and to allow said door to return to a position to extend said stabilizer regardless of the position of said stabilizer when said pin trap is reengaged by said pin.

4. The stabilized cabinet ofclaim 1 further comprising:

said door including a pin extending from a fixed position;

said stabilizer including a pin track positioned on said stabilizer, said pin configured to exert an extension force on said pin track to enable said door to engage and extend said stabilizer from said cabinet as said door is being opened from a closed position and to disengage from said pin track when said stabilizer is fully extended; and

said pin and said pin track configured to enable said pin to engage said pin track and retract said stabilizer if said stabilizer has not been fully retracted before said door is closed and to allow said door to return to a position to extend said stabilizer regardless of the position of said stabilizer when said pin track is reengaged by said pin.

5. The stabilized cabinet ofclaim 1 wherein said stabilizer includes a pair of stabilizer legs and a cross member, said stabilizer legs reciprocally mounted to fit within said fixed base of said stabilizer cabinet, said cross member connecting said stabilizer legs and allowing said stabilizer legs to move in unison when said stabilizer is extended and when said stabilizer is retracted.

6. The stabilized cabinet ofclaim 1 wherein said stabilizer includes at least one glide leg to support said stabilizer and to allow said stabilizer to slide over floor space adjacent said stabilizer cabinet when said stabilizer is extended and when said stabilizer is retracted.

7. The stabilized cabinet ofclaim 1 further comprising:

said door including an overhang and a pivoted lever, said lever being biased to an engagement position with and capable of being rotated on said pivot past said engagement position in a direction that is away from said cabinet, said lever being non-rotatable on said pivot past said engagement position in a direction that is toward said cabinet;

said stabilizer having an engagement angle, said lever positioned to engage and exert an extension force on said engagement angle to extend said stabilizer from said cabinet as said door is being opened from a closed position and to disengage from said stabilizer when said stabilizer is fully extended;

said overhang configured to engage said engagement angle when said door is closed, said overhang exerting a retraction force to retract said stabilizer if said stabilizer has not been fully retracted before said door is closed and allowing said door to return to a position to extend said stabilizer regardless of the position of said stabilizer when said engagement angle is reengaged by said overhang; and

said lever engaging said engagement angle and rotating on its pivot past its engagement position in a direction that is away from said cabinet to allow said lever to clear said engagement angle when said door is closed, said lever being capable of rotating on its pivot back to its engagement position to reengage said engagement angle when said door is closed.

8. A stabilized cabinet according toclaim 1 in which said stabilizer comprises at least one stabilizer leg which substantially fits within said cabinet when said stabilizer is retracted and a cross member attached to said at least one stabilizer leg, said door including an extension for engaging said cross member, said cross member including a track which said extension engages to extend said stabilizer from said cabinet as said door is opened from a closed position and which said extension disengages when said stabilizer is fully extended.

9. A stabilized cabinet according toclaim 1 in which said stabilizer comprises at least one stabilizer leg which substantially fits within said cabinet when said stabilizer is retracted and a cross member attached to said at least one stabilizer leg, said door including an extension for engaging said cross member, said cross member including a track which said extension engages to extend said stabilizer from said cabinet as said door is opened from a closed position and which said extension disengages when said stabilizer is fully extended;

a first side of said track constructed to remain firm when contacted by said extension as said stabilizer is being extended, said first side being movable when contacted by said extension after said extension disengages from said track to allow said extension to return to said track as said door is being closed to retract said stabilizer.

10. A stabilized cabinet for storing vertically stacked items comprising:

a cabinet configured to store a plurality of vertically items, said cabinet having a vertically extending door and a fixed base comprising the support base of said cabinet when said vertical door is closed;

a roller pin extending from a fixed position on said door;

a stabilizer mounted to reciprocate with respect to said cabinet so as to be extendable from about the bottom of said cabinet, said stabilizer constructed and positioned with respect to said cabinet to expand the support base of said cabinet when said stabilizer is extended from said cabinet, said stabilizer including a pair of stabilizer legs and a cross member, said stabilizer legs reciprocally mounted to fit within said fixed base of said stabilizer cabinet, said cross member connecting said stabilizer legs and allowing said stabilizer legs to move in unison when said stabilizer is extended and when said stabilizer is retracted, said stabilizer including at least one glide leg to support said stabilizer and to allow said stabilizer to slide over floor space adjacent said stabilizer cabinet when said stabilizer is extended and when said stabilizer is retracted;

a pin trap and a pin track, said pin trap and said pin track each adjacently positioned on said stabilizer, said pin trap having at least one exit point and being positioned to rotate on a pivot and biased to an upward position, said roller pin being configured to exert an extension force on said pin trap and to enable said door to engage and extend said stabilizer from said cabinet as said door is being opened from a closed position and to disengage from said pin trap through said at least one exit point when said stabilizer is fully extended; and

said roller pin configured to exert a compression force against said pin trap to rotate said pin trap on its pivot against its bias to a downward position to reengage said pin trap and retract said stabilizer if said stabilizer has not been fully retracted before said door is closed and allowing said door to return to a position to extend said stabilizer regardless of the position of said stabilizer when said pin trap is reengaged by said roller pin.

11. A stabilizer for a cabinet used for storing vertically stacked items, the cabinet having a vertically extending door and a fixed base comprising the support base of the cabinet when the vertical door is closed, said stabilizer comprising:

said stabilizer adapted to be mounted to reciprocate with respect to the cabinet so as to be extendable from about the bottom of the cabinet, said stabilizer being constructed to be positioned with respect to the cabinet to expand the support base of the cabinet when said stabilizer is extended from the cabinet;

said stabilizer configured to be engaged by the door and to be extended from the cabinet as the door is being opened from a closed position, said stabilizer adapted to be positioned to be disengaged from the door when said stabilizer is fully extended; and

said stabilizer adapted to be reengaged by the door and be retracted if said stabilizer has not been fully retracted before the door is closed and to allow the door to return to a position to extend said stabilizer regardless of the position of said stabilizer when said stabilizer is reengaged by the door.

12. The stabilizer ofclaim 11 wherein:

a pin adapted to extend from a fixed position on the door of the cabinet;

said stabilizer having a pin trap positioned on said stabilizer, the pin trap configured to be engaged by said pin to enable the door to exert an extension force and extend said stabilizer from the cabinet as the door is being opened from a closed position, and to allow the pin to disengage from said pin trap when said stabilizer is filly extended; and

said pin trap configured to enable the pin to reengage said pin trap and retract said stabilizer if said stabilizer has not been filly retracted before the door is closed to allow the door to return to a position to extend said stabilizer regardless of the position of said stabilizer when said stabilizer is reengaged by the door.

13. The stabilizer ofclaim 11 wherein:

a pin adapted to extend from a fixed position on the door of the cabinet;

said stabilizer includes a pin trap positioned on said stabilizer, said pin trap having at least one exit point and being positioned to rotate on a pivot and biased to an upward position, the pin trap configured to be engaged by said pin to enable the door to exert an extension force and extend said stabilizer from the cabinet as the door is being opened from a closed position and to enable the pin of the door to disengage from said pin trap through said at least one exit point when said stabilizer is fully extended; and

the pin trap configured to receive a compression force from the pin to rotate said pin trap on its pivot against its bias to a downward position to allow the pin to reengage said pin trap and retract said stabilizer if said stabilizer has not been fully retracted before the door is closed and to allow the door to return to a position to extend said stabilizer regardless of the position of said stabilizer when said pin trap is reengaged by the pin.

14. The stabilized cabinet ofclaim 11 wherein:

a pin adapted to extend from a fixed position on the door of the cabinet;

said stabilizer includes a pin track positioned on said stabilizer, said pin track configured to be engaged by said pin to enable the door to exert an extension force and extend said stabilizer from the cabinet as the door is opened from a closed position, and to enable the pin to disengage from said pin track when said stabilizer is fully extended; and

said pin track configured to enable the pin to engage said pin track and retract said stabilizer if said stabilizer has not been fully retracted before the door is closed to allow the door to return to a position to extend said stabilizer regardless of the position of said stabilizer when said pin track is reengaged by the pin.

15. The stabilizer ofclaim 11 wherein said stabilizer includes a pair of stabilizer legs and a cross member, said stabilizer legs adapted to be reciprocally mounted to fit within the fixed base of the stabilizer cabinet, said cross member connecting said stabilizer legs and allowing said stabilizer legs to move in unison when said stabilizer is extended and when said stabilizer is retracted.

16. The stabilizer ofclaim 11 wherein said stabilizer includes at least one glide leg to support said stabilizer and to allow said stabilizer to slide over floor space adjacent the stabilized cabinet when said stabilizer is extended and when said stabilizer is retracted.

17. The stabilizer ofclaim 11, the door of the cabinet including an overhang and a pivoted lever, the lever being biased to an engagement position with and capable of being rotated on the pivot past the engagement position in a direction that is away from the cabinet, the lever being non-rotatable on the pivot past said engagement position in a direction that is toward the cabinet, the stabilizer further comprising:

an engagement angle, said engagement angle positioned to be engaged by the lever of the door to enable the door to exert an extension force to extend said stabilizer from the cabinet as the door is being opened from a closed position and to disengage from the lever of the door when said stabilizer is fully extended;

said engagement angle being positioned to be reengaged by the overhang of the door when the door is closed, the stabilizer receiving a retraction force to be retracted by the overhang if said stabilizer has not been fully retracted before the door is closed and to allow the door to return to a position to extend said stabilizer regardless of the position of said stabilizer when said engagement angle is reengaged by the overhang; and

said engagement angle engaged by the lever of the door, the lever rotating on its pivot past its engagement position in a direction that is away from the cabinet to allow the lever to clear said engagement angle when the door is closed, said engagement angle reengaged by the lever when the lever rotates on its pivot back to its engagement position to reengage said engagement angle when the door is closed.

18. A stabilized cabinet according toclaim 11 in which said stabilizer comprises at least one stabilizer leg which is adapted to fit substantially within the cabinet when said stabilizer is retracted and a cross member attached to said at least one stabilizer leg, said cross member being adapted to be engaged by an extension of the door, said cross member including a track which the extension engages to extend said stabilizer from the cabinet as the door is opened from a closed position the extension disengaging the track when said stabilizer is fully extended.

19. A stabilized cabinet according toclaim 11 in which said stabilizer comprises at least one stabilizer leg which is adapted to fit substantially within the cabinet when said stabilizer is retracted and a cross member attached to said at least one stabilizer leg, said cross member being adapted to be engaged by an extension of the door, said cross member including a track which the extension engages to extend said stabilizer from the cabinet as the door is opened from a closed position, the extension disengaging the track when said stabilizer is filly extended;

a first side of said tack constructed to remain firm when contacted by the extension as said stabilizer is being extended, said first side being movable when contacted by the extension after the extension disengages from said track to allow the extension to return to said track as the door is closed to retract said stabilizer.

20. A stabilizer for storing vertically stacked items in a cabinet, the cabinet having a vertically extending door and a fixed base comprising the support base of said cabinet when the vertical door is closed, a roller pin adapted to extend from a fixed position on the door, said stabilizer comprising:

said stabilizer adapted to be mounted to reciprocate with respect to the cabinet so as to be extendable from about the bottom of the cabinet, said stabilizer constructed to be positioned with respect to the cabinet to expand the support base of the cabinet when said stabilizer is extended from the cabinet, said stabilizer including a pair of stabilizer legs and a cross member, said stabilizer legs adapted to be reciprocally mounted to fit within the fixed base of the stabilizer cabinet, said cross member connecting said stabilizer legs and allowing said stabilizer legs to move in unison when said stabilizer is extended and when said stabilizer is retracted, said stabilizer including at least one glide leg to support said stabilizer and to allow said stabilizer to slide over floor space adjacent the stabilized cabinet when said stabilizer is extended and when said stabilizer is retracted;

a pin trap and a pin track, said pin trap and said pin track each adjacently positioned on said stabilizer, said pin trap having at least one exit point and being positioned to rotate on a pivot and biased to an upward position, said pin trap being positioned to be engaged by the roller pin to enable the door to exert an extension force and extend said stabilizer from the cabinet as the door is being opened from a closed position, said pin trap being further positioned to have the roller pin disengage from said pin trap through said at least one exit point what said stabilizer is fully extended; and

the pin trap configured to receive a compression force from the roller pin to rotate said pin trap on its pivot against its bias to a downward position to be reengaged by said roller pin to retract said stabilizer if said stabilizer has now been fully retracted before the door is closed and to allow the door to return to a position to extend said stabilizer regardless of the position of said stabilizer when said pin trap is reengaged by the roller pin.